Comments

I don't think he's running, which is really too bad, because everytime I read like this I totally want to work for his campaign. Especially the part on page 4 that includes "[practically screaming now]." Damn, he woulda been good.

I think Gore has denied interest in the job enough times that a change in position would be spun as previous lack of candor and present instability.

I like Al Gore. I think he's probably too good a man to do the nasty stuff that winning a primary and election would entail. Of course I'd support him, but this 08 election has now passed beyond the impossible dream into the reality of impossible.

Posted by: JimPortlandOR | Nov 30, 2006 1:30:39 PM

Posted by: JimPortlandOR | Nov 30, 2006 10:30:39 AM

I think Gore has denied interest in the job enough times that a change in position would be spun as previous lack of candor and present instability.

I don't think so. He would need to go through a phase of several months where he adds, after saying that he has "no plans at this time" to run, that "I do think its important that primary voters have the choice of a candidate who is strong on XYZ".

If being open to that level of spin rules out a candidate for the Democratic nomination, the field is empty.

Al Gore: I think non-candidates are inherently more popular than candidates.

Interesting observation on Gore's part. Although last I saw, he still has pretty high negatives among the general public.

Posted by: Chris | Nov 30, 2006 8:03:16 PM

quote:
Do you feel that we would be safer today if you had been president on that day? ....

Really? How about all the warnings?

That’s a separate question. And it’s almost too easy to say, “I would have heeded the warnings.” In fact, I think I would have, I know I would have. We had several instances when the CIA’s alarm bells went off, and what we did when that happened was, we had emergency meetings and called everybody together and made sure that all systems were go and every agency was hitting on all cylinders, and we made them bring more information, and go into the second and third and fourth level of detail. And made suggestions on how we could respond in a more coordinated, more effective way. It is inconceivable to me that Bush would read a warning as stark and as clear [voice angry now] as the one he received on August 6th of 2001, and, according to some of the new histories, he turned to the briefer and said, “Well, you’ve covered your ass.” And never called a follow up meeting. Never made an inquiry. Never asked a single question. To this day, I don’t understand it. And, I think it’s fair to say that he personally does in fact bear a measure of blame for not doing his job at a time when we really needed him to do his job. And now the Woodward book has this episode that has been confirmed by the record that George Tenet, who was much abused by this administration, went over to the White House for the purpose of calling an emergency meeting and warning as clearly as possible about the extremely dangerous situation with Osama bin Laden, and was brushed off! And I don’t know why—honestly—I mean, I understand how horrible this Congressman Foley situation with the instant messaging is, okay? I understand that. But, why didn’t these kinds of things produce a similar outrage? And you know, I’m even reluctant to talk about it in these terms because it’s so easy for people to hear this or read this as sort of cheap political game-playing. I understand how it could sound that way. [Practically screaming now] But dammit, whatever happened to the concept of accountability for catastrophic failure? This administration has been by far the most incompetent, inept, and with more moral cowardice, and obsequiousness to their wealthy contributors, and obliviousness to the public interest of any administration in modern history, and probably in the entire history of the country!

But how do you really feel?
(cracks up)
/quote

The whole thing is a riot to read and mostly is very lighthearted. He definitely seems a different person. Too bad Gore didn't feel like he had "nothing to lose" in 2000.

I'm a Californian transplanted to DC, and surprisingly at peace with it. Or at least I was till it started getting colder. Job-wise, I'm the staff writer for The American Prospect. In the past, I've written for the Washington Monthly, the LA Weekly, The LA Times, The New Republic, Slate, The New York Sun, and the Gadflyer. I'm a damn good cook. No, really. Want to know more? E-mail, I'm friendly.